Cortland, New York, is located in the Tioughnioga River Watershed, part of the headwaters of the Susquehanna River Basin and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The City of Cortland recognizes an opportunity to advance watershed restoration goals, improve local stewardship and reconnect the City to the Tioughnioga River. Through an urban headwaters green infrastructure action plan, this project will guide decision-making regarding significant near-term green infrastructure capital improvements in Cortland. With the leadership of the project’s work group and regional partners, this effort will also build regional capacity throughout the Tioughnioga River Watershed to implement green infrastructure projects and improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This project is made possible by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Technical Assistance Grant.

Project Objectives:

• Identify potential green infrastructure technologies to store, treat and infiltrate stormwater runoff and reduce impacts to the Tioughnioga River.
• Coordinate green infrastructure opportunities with transportation and corridor investments.
• Develop an action plan to guide design, funding and implementation of green infrastructure improvements.
• Build capacity across jurisdictions to advance green infrastructure solutions in the Tioughnioga River watershed.

Project Timeline: 

November 2014 – Working Session with City and Regional representatives to identify issues and opportunities.
May 2015 – Strategies Working Session and Regional Forum
September 2015 – Draft and Final Action Plan

Project Materials